If an 802.11 RF transmission reaches a receiver simultaneously by direct and reflected paths, what is the outcome?

When an 802.11 RF transmission reaches a receiver via both direct and reflected paths simultaneously, it can lead to a phenomenon known as constructive and destructive interference. In this case, the reflected signals may cause distortion if they arrive at the receiver out of phase with the direct signal. Specifically, if the signals are out of phase, they can partially or completely cancel each other out, leading to a degradation in signal quality, resulting in distortion.

This situation commonly occurs in environments with obstacles that reflect signals, such as walls or furniture, leading to a complex propagation environment. Due to this interference, communication may become unreliable or data packets may require retransmission, further affecting the performance of the wireless network. Understanding this outcome is crucial for troubleshooting and optimizing wireless network performance in various environments.